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High Tide.
Guys: Just dropped off my 2008 Cougar FTD at a local Yamaha dealer to have new trolling motor installed and two-year maintenance on the Yamaha. I just got a call from the dealer telling me he noticed there were spots on my hull where the fiberglass is peeling away. We do not have a local BassCat dealer in the Lake Lanier area so the local dealer just happened to crawl under the boat to take a look at that great BassCat hull design because they dont get a chance to see too many around here. Thats when he noticed the spots. Ive been under the boat for routine washing but never laid down under the boat like he did. He says the spots start around the front axle of the trailer and go all the way to the back of the boat.I am attaching pictures he sent me. By the way, this is Kota Kirayamas boat that he won the Lake Erie tournament in and we all remember the weather conditions. I worry about stress fractures. To my knowledge, I have not hit anything since I bought it 2 years ago. The pictures dont look like an impact issue. The peeling runs a long way from front axle to back. The boat is still at the local dealer and will be there for a few days as they install the trolling motor and do the motor maintenance. What steps do I need to take to get this repaired under the lifetime hull warranty? The dealer works with a local fiberglass repair shop and can get an estimate.
This was obviously not the place to start this process, but you need to contact service at Basscat Monday and send them the photos. This was started by impact damage, you can tell by the shattering, and may be waterlogged now making the fix a bit tougher. Call BCB Monday.
Hard to say as the images are not really clean close up, though send a file to [email protected] on Monday and they will get you an opinion. It looks like there are radiusing cracks outwards and half moon shaped to the rear, with point of ends to the fronts on the small chine (2″ wide) outside the pad. The white area in the glass indicates some form of tearing or chiseling of the glass with some contact there. We can also see the small string applied to the corner there is pulling at the front and has been broken out of the corner on the missing part. Dont worry about running it on smoother water in a temporary fashion from what we see there. Though we need better pictures to help you more. If you had a BCB dealership close on this one it would not alter the outcome or need for BCB to see it. There are local glass shops that can handle this type of a repair, though very few dealerships have one. BCB Admin.
Thanks BCB. I wil send the pics to service. The local dealers opinion is contrary to dbasketmans post. The peeling is across a number of areas across a wide area of the pad. He indicated once the peeling starts, running at the high speeds just accelerates the tearing and chiseling. Ill email service and thanks for the quick response. I have confidence in BassCat to do the right thing. Im dedicated to the brand as evidenced by the fact Im one of only two cats running regularly on Lake Lanier. Dbasketman: Not sure what you mean by “this was obviously not the place to start the process” …..this is an owners message board and I know BassCat monitors. I got the response from BassCat I was looking for given this is a Saturday and I needed to give the local dealer some direction today. I wasnt looking for other owners opinions since none of us are qualified to make such judgements. Myself included.
Basketmans concern is that the situation be handled more discreetly. Though you all know the history of Bass Cat and how we handle things. For example we are aware of a competitions factory demo that has serious transom problems, should that have found its way to an owners board it would seriously impact potential consumer decisions. Though it did not and now they are left to handle it as they see fit. If the situation on the competitive transom is impact, then no implications or concerns are placed on that manufacturer. If they do not take care of it, then it is again in the consumers hands. Get Service some improved close ups of the hull fracturing and we will let them handle it and determine if there is a tearing pattern or each crack replicates the other in sequence. Be sure to get the whole set in series. BCB
I would argue that the way BassCat handles this in the end is the best form of advertising you can buy. It is the reason why I bought a BassCat despite the fact there is not a dealer within 3 hours of my home. Still dont understand the issue of being “discreet”. This not your average boat. Kota used this boat rigorously in tournament fishing including the Lake Erie win running long miles each day in conditions that sank a couple of Rangers. So it has been put to the test. All I ask is a fair evaluation and fair treatment. If it is an impact issue, then I own it. I trust the BassCat family will do what they always do. The right thing. My apologies if my posting and attempt to get some directions over the weekend created any problems for BCB. Certainly was not my intent.
High TideYou mean yours is one of three BassCats running regularly on Lanier. Be sure to say high if you ever see this boat on the water.Good luck with your boat. Boats are a constant maintenance.
No problems here on BCBs count over the posting. Just the reason for dbs statement and since you are second ownership the origin of any mark could be prior to your possession.
I know of a cat brother who only used his new boat for a year and had bubbles real bad(BCB fixed it for him ) , im wandering if this boat had the same and High Tide couldnt see them and this is the end result, i hope not . Just wandering did Kota turn this boat in to be refurbished b4 sale to High Tide.
Bass1958: Glad to hear there are THREE Cat owners on Lake Lanier. I hope to see you on the lake soon. If you see this rig, give me a wave. I have created a lot of interest in BassCat on Lanier with this rig……turns a lot of heads at the ramp. Several guys who have been Stratos, Ranger, and Triton owners for years are talking about going with a Cat next time. The dealer who was installing my new trolling motor (not a BassCat dealer) just stumbled on the hull problem because he was crawling around under the boat trying to get a look at the hull design because he had heard such good things about Cats. All these guys will be watching closely how my hull issue is resolved. I guess we will all find out next week. Thanks to the other posters for your encouraging remarks.
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